Patentable/Patents/US-11172072
US-11172072

Recording apparatus and recording method

PublishedNovember 9, 2021
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

A recording apparatus includes a recording head, a loading unit, a feeding unit, a cover, a detection unit, and a determination unit. The feeding unit feeds a recording medium loaded on the loading unit to a recording position where the recording head performs the recording. The cover moves between an opening state and a closing state. The determination unit determines a size of the loaded recording medium based on a result of a width detection operation. The recording head records an image per a determination result. If the cover closing is detected before the recording is performed, the determination unit performs the width detection operation to determine the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit. If the cover opening is detected and the recording apparatus receives a recording instruction, the determination unit performs the width detection operation to determine the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit.

Patent Claims
21 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.

1

1. A recording apparatus comprising: a recording head configured to perform recording of an image on a recording medium based on a recording instruction; a loading unit configured to be loaded with the recording medium; a feeding unit configured to feed the recording medium loaded on the loading unit to a position where the recording head is capable of performing the recording; a cover configured to be movable between an opening state in which a feeding port for loading the recording medium on the loading unit is opened and a closing state in which at least part of the feeding port is covered; an opening-closing detection unit configured to detect an opening-closing state of the cover; and a determination unit configured to determine a size of the recording medium loaded on the loading unit based on a result of detection by a width detection operation configured to detect a width of the recording medium loaded on the loading unit, wherein the recording by the recording head is performed in accordance with a result of determination by the determination unit, wherein, if the opening-closing detection unit detects the closing of the cover before the recording is performed, the determination unit performs the width detection operation to determine the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit, and wherein, if the opening-closing detection unit detects the opening of the cover and the recording apparatus receives the recording instruction, the determination unit performs the width detection operation to determine the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit.

2

2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit further determines a type of the recording medium based on the result of detection.

3

3. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the determination unit determines the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit in response to a turning on of a power of the recording apparatus.

4

4. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the opening-closing detection unit also detects whether the cover is closed while a power of the recording apparatus is turned off, and wherein, if the opening-closing detection unit detects that the cover is opened while the power of the recording apparatus is turned off, the determination unit determines the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit in response to a turning on of the power of the recording apparatus.

5

5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide configured to abut against the recording medium loaded in the loading unit in a direction intersecting with a direction of the feeding to suppress movement of the recording medium in the intersecting direction, wherein the width detection operation is performed by detecting a position of the guide to detect a position of an end portion of the recording medium.

6

6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage unit configured to store information about types of recording medium of a plurality of sizes, which are capable of being loaded on the loading unit, wherein the information is stored in a plurality of groups corresponding to the plurality of sizes of the recording medium, and wherein the determination unit determines a group based on the result of detection.

7

7. The recording apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the storage unit stores information about the recording medium size which is set by a user.

8

8. The recording apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising: a notification control unit configured to cause a notification unit to indicate information indicating the types of recording medium belonging to the group determined by the determination unit; and a setting unit configured to set a type of recording medium indicated by information that is input as the type of recording medium loaded on the loading unit and to set a size of the recording medium.

9

9. The recording apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the notification control unit causes the notification unit to indicate the recording medium size belonging to the group determined by the determination unit.

10

10. The recording apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the notification control unit further causes the notification unit to indicate the type of recording medium corresponding to the recording medium size belonging to the group.

11

11. The recording apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the storage unit stores history information, which is information about the type of recording medium that has been used last, for each group, and wherein the notification control unit causes the notification unit to indicate the information about the type of recording medium that has been used last in the group determined by the determination unit, as the type of recording medium loaded on the loading unit based on the history information and the group determined by the determination unit.

12

12. The recording apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein, if no information is input for a predetermined time since the notification control unit causes the notification unit to indicate information indicating a type of recording medium, the setting unit sets the indicated type of recording medium as the type of recording medium loaded on the loading unit.

13

13. The recording apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising an image processing unit configured to perform image processing, wherein the recording instruction is issued by acquiring data for a recording operation by the image processing unit, wherein the data includes image data to be recorded on the recording medium and information about the recording medium size, wherein, if the size indicated by the information about the recording medium size, which is included in the data, coincides with the recording medium size set by the setting unit, the recording operation is started, and wherein, if the size indicated by the information about the recording medium size, which is included in the data, does not coincide with the recording medium size set by the setting unit, the notification control unit causes the notification unit to indicate that the size indicated by the information about the recording medium size, which is included in the data, does not coincide with the recording medium size set by the setting unit.

14

14. The recording apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the storage unit stores information about the recording medium size on which an image to be recorded for maintenance of the recording head is recordable, wherein, if the recording medium size for maintenance coincides with the recording medium size determined by the determination unit, a recording operation of the image for maintenance is started, and wherein, if the recording medium size for maintenance does not coincide with the recording medium size determined by the determination unit, the notification control unit causes the notification unit to indicate that the recording medium size for maintenance does not coincide with the recording medium size determined by the determination unit.

15

15. A method for a recording apparatus having a loading unit and a cover configured to be movable between an opening state in which a feeding port for loading a recording medium on the loading unit is opened and a closing state in which at least part of the feeding port is covered, the method comprising: performing recording of an image on a recording medium based on a recording instruction; loading the loading unit with the recording medium; feeding the recording medium loaded on the loading unit to a position where a recording head is capable of performing the recording; detecting an opening-closing state of the cover; and determining a size of the recording medium loaded on the loading unit based on a result of detection by a width detection operation configured to detect a width of the recording medium loaded on the loading unit, wherein performing recording includes performing recording in accordance with a result of determining the size of the recording medium, wherein, if the closing of the cover is detected before the recording is performed, determining includes performing the width detection operation to determine the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit, and wherein, if the opening of the cover is detected and the recording apparatus receives the recording instruction, determining includes performing the width detection operation to determine the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit.

16

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein determining further includes determining a type of the recording medium based on the result of detection.

17

17. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising storing information about types of recording medium of a plurality of sizes, which are capable of being loaded on the loading unit, wherein the information is stored in a plurality of groups corresponding to the plurality of sizes of the recording medium, wherein determining includes determining a group based on the result of detection.

18

18. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising: indicating information indicating the types of recording medium belonging to the determined group; and setting a type of recording medium indicated by information that is input as the type of recording medium loaded on the loading unit and setting a size of the recording medium.

19

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein storing includes storing history information, which is information about the type of recording medium that has been used last, for each group, and wherein indicating includes indicating the information about the type of recording medium that has been used last in the determined group, as the type of recording medium loaded on the loading unit based on the history information and the determined group.

20

20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein storing includes storing information about the recording medium size on which an image to be recorded for maintenance of the recording head is recordable, wherein, if the recording medium size for maintenance coincides with the determined recording medium size, a recording operation of the image for maintenance is started, and wherein, if the recording medium size for maintenance does not coincide with the determined recording medium size, indicating includes indicating that the recording medium size for maintenance does not coincide with the determined recording medium size.

21

21. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program to cause a computer to perform a method for a recording apparatus having a loading unit and a cover configured to be movable between an opening state in which a feeding port for loading the recording medium on the loading unit is opened and a closing state in which at least part of the feeding port is covered, the method comprising: performing recording of an image on a recording medium based on a recording instruction; loading the loading unit with the recording medium; feeding the recording medium loaded on the loading unit to a position where a recording head is capable of performing the recording; detecting an opening-closing state of the cover; and determining a size of the recording medium loaded on the loading unit based on a result of detection by a width detection operation configured to detect a width of the recording medium loaded on the loading unit, wherein performing recording includes performing recording in accordance with a result of determining the size of the recording medium, wherein, if the closing of the cover is detected before the recording is performed, determining includes performing the width detection operation to determine the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit, and wherein, if the opening of the cover is detected and the recording apparatus receives the recording instruction, determining includes performing the width detection operation to determine the recording medium size loaded on the loading unit.

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

July 23, 2020

Publication Date

November 9, 2021

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Cite as: Patentable. “Recording apparatus and recording method” (US-11172072). https://patentable.app/patents/US-11172072

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